US Round-Up

It’s been a manic (and very rainy) summer in the UK. Meanwhile across the Pond, Cassie O’Pia and crew have been gathering reviews at cutlass-point. Here are some of our favourites.

“With memorable characters, extraordinary adventures, and a world that will stay in the reader’s mind long after the book is closed, The Voyage to Magical North is one of the best middle grade fantasy books of the year so far.” – Barnes and Noble Kids’ Blog

“Welsh author Claire Fayers buoys her seaworthy series debut The Voyage to Magical North with agreeably understated humor, over-the-top sea monsters and nuanced characters. This finely spun adventure is the very definition of swashbuckler, but also thoughtfully examines ideas of story, good vs. evil, instinct vs. rules and self-discovery. A treasure.” – Shelf Awareness starred review

“This pirate yarn rollicks with the best of them, led by the convincingly legendary Cassie but handily assisted by Peter’s magic and Brine’s quick thinking. Fayers’s fantastical world—complete with invisible polar bears, man-eating penguins, and vengeful whales—makes the voyage north fraught with dangers, but the crew is stouthearted and true and quite funny, and Brine’s quest to discover where she comes from lends depth to the madcap events.” —The Horn Book

“The beautiful cover design reflects the charming adventure within; this multilayered fantasy handles a variety of themes, including the meaning of family, the ability of power to corrupt, and the importance of stories. VERDICT Upper elementary and younger middle grade fans of Lynne Jonell’s The Sign of the Cat will be enchanted by Brine’s high seas adventure.” – School Library Journal